Battle of overhand rights: Roy Nelson vs. Javy Ayala at Bellator 183

Battle of overhand rights: Roy Nelson vs. Javy Ayala at Bellator 183

Roy Nelson likely would have faced former PRIDE star Sergei Kharitonov in his Bellator debut.

But the MMA gods laugh at plans.

Javy Ayala was a huge underdog when he stepped into the cage against Kharitonov this past November at Bellator 163. Then he took a page from Nelson’s book, laying out the former PRIDE star with an overhand right.

Now, Ayala (10-5 MMA, 5-2 BMMA) and Nelson (22-14 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) will see whose power punch packs more dynamite when they meet Saturday at Bellator 183, which takes place at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The event’s main card airs live on Spike.